Carpet-stretcher



(N0 Model.)

H. G. GABY. CARPET STRETGHER.

No. 485,406.- PmentedfNQv. 1, 1892..'

r l I NrTED STATES PATENT rinnen.

CARPET-,STRETCH ER.

4SPECIIEICACLIOIYN forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,406, datedNovember` 1, 1892.

n Application filed February 27, 1892. Serial No. 422,957. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE G. CADY, a citizen of the United States,residing in the town ofScott, county of Cortland, State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carpet-Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings on one sheet, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carpet-stretchers in which a.stretcher-bar provided with suitable hooks operates on a pivot 1nconnection with a rack-bar and pinion; and the objects of my inventionare to so construct and arrange the several component parts thereof thatthey may be readily and permanently assembled for' operation, and toprovide means for retaining the carpet when stretched in that positionuntil tacked or otherwise secured on the floor by the operator. I obtainthese objects bythe mechanism illustrated in the sheet of drawingsreferred to and accompanying this specication, in which- Figure l is anelevation of my improved carpet-stretcher. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thesame. Fig. 3 is an end view of the saine, taken from the rear endthereof; and Fig. 4 is a detached perspective View of the rack-pawl ofthe same.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A is a rack-bar provided with a downwardly-projecting spur B at one endand with nibs e e at the other end and with rack-teeth' C C. A casting Dis provided for sliding on said rack-bar A and has a bearing E and astep F. A foot G is provided on the casting D, as shown in Figs. l, 2,and 3, which is provided with a stud-pin R. The casting D is alsoprovided with slotted loops M M, which are plainly shown in Figs. l, 2,and 3, through which the rack-bar A is fitted to pass freely. The saidcasting D is further provided with gu-ide-iianges J J, which are formedthereon and connected near or at their top ends by a shaft K, theoffices of which said several parts will be presently described. Ahand-lever Q is provided and extended at nearly right angles theretointo a post O, which is passed through the rack-pinion N, to which it issuitably secured in any preferred manner,

but may preferably be cast therewith and with said hand-lever Q in onepiece, which post O, with the rack-pinion N secured thereto, as shown,is placed into the bearing E of the castingD, and its bottom endP isstepped 'in the step F of the casting D, which bearing E and the step Fof the casting D are left open at the side thereof next the rack-bar Ato enable said post O, having said rack-pinion N secured thereto, to bereadily laid therein and to be locked in place by the rackbar A, asshown in Figs. l and 2, the practical arrangement and operation of whichbeing hereinafter more fully described.

Between the guide-flanges J J of the casting D and hooked on the shaftK, which connects the top ends of said guide-flanges J J, is therack-pawl L, Fig. 4, which is provided with a beveled tootha, a stop d,ahook c, and an arm b.' On the stud-pin R of the foot G of the casting Dis pivoted the stretcher-bar S, which is furnished on its under surfacewith suitable hooks T T, arranged obliquely thereto, as shown in Fig. l.The said stretcher-bar S may be of any suitable length, and the hooks TT furnished thereon of any desired arangenient or number. U is thecarpet being stretched upon the floor V.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention, I will describetheir practical arrangement and operation.

The stretcher-bar S is placed on the stud R of the casting D and thefree end of the latter suitably upset, so that it will-retain thestretcher-bar S in place and still not interfere with its pivotal actionthereon, the upper surface of said stretcher-bar S being drawn firmlyagainst the under side of foot G, which serves, to4 keep saidstretcher-bar S from rockin The post O, having the rack-pinion N securedthereto, is placed in the bearing E and the step F of the casting D, sothat said rack-pinion N is placed horizontally between the said bearingE and the step F of the casting D, and so that its teeth will engagewith the teeth C C of the rack-bar A when the same is placed inposition. The rack-pawl L is hooked by its hook c on the shaft K of theguide-flanges J J of the cast-ing D. The rackbar A is then passed by itsnarrow end through the loops M M of the casting D, when its teeth C Cengage the teeth of the rack-pinion N, its

loo.

upper edge passing at the same time under the stop d of the rack-pawl Lin the mannerand in the relative position as illustrated in Fig. 2, thespur B on the rack-bar A pointing downward, as shown. The nibs e e ofthe narrow end of the rack-bar A are knocked over, as shown in thedotted lines thereat, which serves to prevent the casting D and itsappendages from passing off therefrom. The rack-pawl L, being hooked inplace, as already described, has the beveled side of its beveled teeth anext the spur end of the rack-bar A, so that when the casting D ispushed on the rack-barA toward its spur end the rack-pawl L releasesitself from engagement with the teeth C C ot' the said rack-bar A.

When it is desired to operate my improved carpet-stretcher, the spur Bis driven into the Iioor next the base-board, or otherwise,if desired,sufliciently fer it to take positive hold thereon. The casting D, byreleasing` the engagement of the rack-pawl with the rack-teeth of therack-bar, is pushed a suiicient distance thereon toward the narrow endthereof and the hooks furnished on the stretcher-bar pivoted on the studof the foot of the casting are engaged in the carpet and the rack-pawlallowed free action as the rackpinion is rotated in the proper directionby the hand-lever. Its teeth, engaging with the teeth of the rack-bar,cause the casting and the oross-bar already described to slide on therack-bar, the automatic disengagement of the rack-pawl allowing it so todo. At the Same time the engagement of the hooks of the stretcher-bar inthe carpet cause the carpet to be stretched, which when sufiicientlydone is there locked to place by the falling of the square side of therack-pawl into engagement with the rack-teeth of the rack-bar, thisaction being constantly assured by the Weight of the arm b, whichconstantly tends to the said engagement of said rack -pawl. The

rack-pawl is kept from being thrown out of position by its stop d, andis guided in its action by the guide-fianges J J of the casting D. Thenit is desired to renew the operation and that portion of the carpetsecured in place, the operator simply releases the rackpawl from itslocked engagement on the rack- 5o teeth of the rack-bar by hand andrenews the operation, as described.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention and their modeof operation, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

l. The spiked stretchenbar S, pivoted to the stud R, in combination withthe casting D, having the foot G, the bearing E, step F, loops M M,guide-fiangcs J J, and shaft K, 6o the rack-pawl L, having the hook c,the beveled tooth a, the stop d, and the arm b, the rack-pinion N, postO, handle Q, and rackbar A, having the spur B, and nibs e e, arranged inthe manner, for the purpose, and operated as described.

2. The spiked stretcher-bar S, pivoted to the stud-pin R, in combinationwith the casting D, having the bearing E, step F, loops M M, shaft K,the rack-pawl L, having the hook 7o c, beveled tooth a, stop d, and armb, the rackpinion N, secured to the post O to be operated by a lever,and the rack-bar A, arranged in the manner and for the purpose asdescribed.

3. The spiked stretcher-bar S, pivotally secured to the casting D, saidcasting D having the bearing E, step F to receive the post O, to whichis secured the rack-pinion N, also having the loops M M, theguide-flanges J J, 8o and shaft K, in combination with the rackpawl L,having the hook c, the beveled tooth a, the stop d, arm b, and therack-bar A, which engages with the rack-pinion and rack-paw1 and whichwhen placed in position through said loops M M in the casting D servesto lock them in their respective places, arranged in the manner and forthe purposes as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HORACE G. CADY. lVitnesses:

MORTIMER V. AUSTIN, J. HENRY KERR.

